Marc Spicijaric joined the Blue Devil coaching staff as an assistant coach in August of 2009. Spicijaric came to Durham after a standout career at the University of Illinois.

Among other duties, Spicijaric assists Ashworth in team training and recruiting for the Blue Devil tennis program. Duke’s 2011 and 2015 recruiting classes ranked first in the nation, with the 2011 class including freshmen Beatrice Capra, Ester Goldfeld, Monica Turewicz and Annie Mulholland. The 2015 class welcomed Ellyse Hamlin, Jessica Ho and Kaitlyn McCarthy. His hard work paid off in 2012 as Capra was named ACC Player of the Year, and Capra, Goldfeld and Turewicz were all ranked in the final Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) poll.

Spicijaric’s sixth season in Durham saw the Blue Devils earn double-digit conference victories for the fifth time in seven years as Duke compiled an 11-3 mark against ACC foes. Spicijaric also helped guide Duke to its 27th straight NCAA Tennis Championship tournament appearance, while also assisting freshman Samantha Harris to ITA Carolina Region Rookie of the Year honors.

In 2014, Spicijaric once again assisted with the success of the Duke women’s tennis program, as the Blue Devils participated in the NCAA Team Championship tournament for the 18th consecutive season. Duke also claimed the ITA Indoor Team Championship title in exciting fashion as the Blue Devils outlasted UCLA, 4-3, in the final and amassed 20 or more wins in a season for the fourth time in his five year stint. Individually, members of the team thrived, as the Blue Devils boasted three All-Americans, three All-ACC honorees, three ITA Scholar Athletes, one All-ACC academic recipient, a Regional ITA Senior Player of the Year and a two-time ACC Player of the Week.

During his fourth year with the Duke women’s tennis program, Spicijaric assisted Ashworth in leading an injury-plagued Blue Devil roster to a 16-10 season and Duke’s 17th consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament. With Spicijaric’s guidance, three members of Duke’s tennis team earned All-ACC honors in 2013.

In 2012, Spicijaric assisted the team to a 29-3 (.906) record overall and an 11-0 mark in the ACC to become the first team in ACC history to have a perfect 11-0 record and win the ACC tournament in the same season. Since Spicijaric has joined the staff in 2009, the Blue Devils have had three consecutive 20 win seasons.

The 2010-11 season saw Spicijaric help guide Duke to its second 25-win season in three years. His recruiting efforts paid great dividends as freshman Rachel Kahan went 31-1 in singles play, on the way to garnering ACC Rookie of the Year honors.

In his first season, Spicijaric helped lead the Blue Devils to a 22-8 overall record and a final national ranking of ninth. Three players captured All-ACC honors, while Ellah Nze earned All-American recognition.

Spicijaric had a stellar four-year career with Illinois, helping the Illini to four NCAA Tournament appearances, including advancing to the national title match in 2007. He closed out his career with a 90-55 singles record, a 96-48 doubles mark and earned All-Big Ten honors as a senior.

A native of Wesley Chapel, Fla., Spicijaric played primarily in the No. 1 spot as a senior, posting a 19-5 overall singles record and a 25-9 doubles record. Ranked as high as No. 50 in 2009, he finished the year ranked 74th nationally and 13th in the Midwest region. He also was voted as Ilinois’ Most Valuable Player by his teammates.

Known as “Mr. Clutch” during the 2006-07 season, Spicijaric tied for the most wins on the team with a 32-17 overall record in singles action. He proved to be pivotal in leading the Illini to the national finals, losing just one match in the NCAA Tournament and scored the match-clinching win over Ohio State in the national quarterfinals.

In his junior season, Spicijaric concluded the year with a 14-14 singles record and 5-4 ledger in Big 10 matches primarily in the No. 3 slot. He boasted a five-match win streak in the heart of the Big Ten season and compiled a 16-11 doubles record to finish ranked 42nd by the ITA.